Biology

Physiology

Tympole is a round Water-type Pokémon with a circular, cream-colored face. Its eyebrows are shaped like two quarter notes. Its body is similar in coloration. It possesses blue and black-ringed bumps, like acoustic speakers, on its sides. Its tail is long, tapered, blue and tadpole-like.

Gender differences

None.

Special abilities

Tympole's cheeks are able to vibrate high-pitched melodic sounds inaudible to humans. It communicates using these sound-waves and even notifies its friends of danger using them.

Behavior

Habitat

Tympole live in the water.

Diet

In the anime

A school of Tympole in the anime.

Major appearances

Tympole made its debut in Facing Fear with Eyes Wide Open!, when a group of them attacked Oshawott under water, trying to prevent it from getting the medicine to cure the team from the poisoning several Foongus inflicted, the school of Tympole ran away as Oshawott opened its eyes while using Razor Shell, the Tympole were being commanded by a wild Palpitoad.

Trivia

Tympole's face has become a phenomenon on the popular Japanese online artist community Pixiv.

Despite not being able to walk on land, Tympole can be found in grass patches just outside Pinwheel Forest.

Although it is simulated as swimming in Pokédex 3D, Tympole does not display the bubbles effect that all other Pokémon simulated in an aquatic environment, such as Eelektrik and Stunfisk display. The reason for this is unknown.

Origin

Tympole appears to be a combination of a toad tadpole and a loudspeaker. Tympole's spherical "speakers" were probably inspired by toads' "warts" and poison glands, as well as the Surinam toad, an aquatic amphibian whose backs are covered in pockets that hold its eggs, or more likely, the typanum of a real-life frog, located in the same area. It is an eardrum-like body part the toad uses to hear. Its Pokédex entry also mentions the fact that it creates vibrations underwater, also like the Surinam. Its eyebrows resemble musical notes, specifically the quarter note, and the bumps on the side of its head are similar to headphones.

Name origin

Tympole may be a combination of timpani (a low-pitched drum-like sound or the sensation felt in the abdomen when a drum is struck), tympani (a type of drum), or tympanic membrane (eardrum; referring to the bumps on each side of its head), and tadpole. It may also involve tempo.

Otamaro may be a combination of おたまじゃくし otamajakushi (tadpole or musical notes) and まろ maro (an affectionate suffix or shaved eyebrows, the latter referring to the markings above its eyes).